I’ve been reading a lot the last month. I’m up to a total of 26 books out of my goal of 150 for the year. I know I’ll have no problem meeting that goal, not with the frequency I’ve been ordering books lately!

I re-read Skinny Bitch. Yeah, I just read it six months ago, but reading it again reconfirmed my choice not to eat meat. Not that I’m saying it’s like the Bible or anything, but it just strengthened my resolve. Now if I could just get people to stop asking me “Don’t you miss meat?”

I finished the Star Wars Dark Nest trilogy with The Unseen Queen and The Swarm War, by Troy Denning. Both decent books. The Star Wars world always entertains me, so that was enjoyable.

Next up was Kitty and the Silver Bullet, by Carrie Vaughn. I enjoy this series. Kitty is a good character, and she’s grown a lot through the series, getting stronger with every book. I was glad to see her develop even further in this one.

I’d heard a lot about The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory. Now, I was more or less familiar with the story of Anne Boleyn, but this book was a whole other take on that story. I’ve always felt sorry for Anne in the past. In this case…not so much. I didn’t like her at all. Her sister Mary was a great character, and I read this really fast to find out what happened to her (Not to Anne. I knew what was going on with that.)

Then I read The Darkest Evening of the Year, by Dean Koontz. I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while, and finally got around to it. It was good. Not as good as his Odd Thomas books or the ones about Chris Snow (Seize the Night, Fear Nothing), but good. You can always count on Koontz to tell stories that could happen, but with a twist of something just a little bit harder to believe thrown in.

I also read three books by Sunny, Mona Lisa Blossoming, Mona Lisa Craving, and Lucinda, Darkly. I like her writing, although it inevitably brings to mind the Anita Blake books. Sunny’s premise is quite a bit different, with the Monere. I like the fact that they’re from the moon originally, and there’s a lot of original ideas in her stories. I actually liked the Lucinda, Darkly book even more than the Mona Lisa books. It’s about Lucinda, sister to Halcyon of the other books, and she’s quite an interesting character, with a lot of conflict in her life.

I’ve read the first two books in Lilith Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine series, so I was looking forward to reading The Devil’s Right Hand. I think I need to go back and re-read the first two, though, because I don’t remember them being quite so…futuristic/sci-fi. Actually, I don’t remember that at all. This kept distracting me from the story, which I liked a lot. Dante’s such a strong character, but she’s so insecure sometimes that I want to scream. And who wouldn’t want to be all kick-butt like her? She’s great. That’s why I don’t understand the insecurity, even though it makes her a very realistic character.

On my best friend’s recommendation I read Nighthawk, by Kristen Kyle. She said it was “Pretty good, for a romance.” Um, there’s a reason I don’t read straight romance any more. Not that this was a bad book. But I wasn’t expecting it be a space romance, and similarities to the original Star Wars movies kept rearing their heads at me. A little distracting, that.

Last, but definitely not least: Chosen, by P.C. and Kristen Cast. I love these books. Love, love, love. The premise is great. I mean, a vampire finishing school? Excellent idea (Why can’t I think of these things? Why?). The tattoos that appear on the fledglings and vampires are cool. Then you’ve got the conflict between Zoey, the MC, and the High Priestess (who’s really evil), her dead best friend, and her numerous boyfriends (one human, one a fledgling, one a grown vamp). Throw in her horrible family, her conflict with the ex-Priestess-in-Training (and hag) Aphrodite, and the fact that someone’s murdering adult vamps, and you’ve got a great, fast-moving read. I read this in like two hours. I started to do some other things, knew I wouldn’t accomplish anything as long as the book was waiting for me, and sat down and read the entire thing. Now I have to wait until fall for the next one!

I’ve been reading some good books in the last week. Some I’ve read before, some I haven’t. All by authors I’m already familiar with. But still, enjoyable.

First off, I read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, by Douglas Adams. I love these books. I think they’re hilarious. I end up laughing out loud every time I read them. I’ve loaned them to family members and friends, and only one person I know has every actually managed to read them. Everyone else says they just couldn’t make sense of them. I wonder what it says about me that I like them so much?

Then I read Iron Kissed, by Patricia Briggs. This is the new one in the Mercy Thompson series. I like the world Briggs has created. It’s different than other takes I’ve seen on the werewolves/vampires/fey (Oh my!) theme, and it’s a refreshing change. Her characters are strong and well-developed, and she always throws such great problems at them. I’ve been wondering for the last two books about some of the choices I knew Mercy would have to make, and this book answered some of those questions. It also went into more detail about the fey, which I really liked. A really good read.

Last but not least, I read Duma Key by Stephen King. I wanted to start it Friday night, but I was home alone, and I’m too chicken to read King by myself at night. So I started it Saturday afternoon. And ended up staying up ’til one a.m. reading it. I really liked this one. I haven’t been quite so impressed with some of his last books, but this one I thoroughly enjoyed. He’s so mean to his characters! I loved the setting a lot. I have always loved the ocean, and King’s description made me feel like I was there (Heck, I wanted to be there. Except for the whole spooky-doll-lady-thing. Eh.) He inches the tension level up a teensy bit at a time, but by the end I was just as creeped out as the MC. This is a book I would highly recommend.

I have not actually done much reading this year, only ten books so far. But there has been a lot going on in real life, so I’m not overly worried about it. Besides, there are so many books coming out soon that I’m really looking forward to.

In addition to reading Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, I also read Through the Looking Glass. Is it wrong of me to prefer the cartoon version of Alice? And I kept getting flashes of what I think was a TV movie version of Looking Glass. Both were still enjoyable reads, though.

I read the anthology Over the Moon, with stories by Angela Knight, Mary Janice Davidson, Virginia Kantar, and Sunny. Enjoyable stories all. I have to say I preferred the Sunny story, but then I read Mona Lisa Awakening (although not the second book in the series yet), and really liked it. I was also impressed with the Davidson story, although this was the first of her vampire stories I’ve read. I do think I’ll be buying the books, though.

I read the Star Wars book The Joiner King by Troy Denning. I can’t help it, I’m a huge Star Wars fan, and I’ve enjoyed pretty much all of the books (Except for the ones where certain main characters died. Didn’t like those at all.) This one was no exception, and I intend to buy the remaining two books in the trilogy soon.

Lastly, I just finished House of Sand and Fog, by Andre Dubus III. I never saw the movie, so I have nothing to compare it to. I got attached to all the characters, even though I wanted to shake some of them and say “Hello! Wake up. You’re headed for disaster.” I was afraid there would be no way this book would end well. Sadly, I was right. I did think it was well-written, and the characters had very distinct voices, but the book just depressed me. I am a firm believer in happy endings (even if my own stories don’t always work out that way).

After looking back over what I’ve read this year, I’d like to post some of my thoughts on some of these books and authors.

Favorite author I discovered this year: It’s a tie between Janet Evanovich, P.C. Cast., and Stephenie Meyer. I love the Stephanie Plum books! They had me rolling on the floor (Thank you, Teresa, for introducing me to them), and made me green with envy. I want to write hilarious characters like that! I discovered P.C. Cast at Conestoga, and I’m grateful I did. I enjoyed her Divine books, but I’m really loving the House of Night books she writes with her daughter. Also, the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I cannot say enough good things about these books. I discovered them by accident, and devoured them. I can’t wait for the next one to come out!

Favorite books I haven’t read in years: The Anne of Green Gables series, by L.M. Montgomery. I’d forgotten how much I loved these books! And how much Anne’s lively imagination reminds me of myself. I actually hadn’t read the last two books in the series before, but I enjoyed them as well.

Favorite shorter work: I bought the e-book Muse by Lazette Gifford (of Forward Motion), and absolutely loved it. It was the first e-book I’ve ever bought, and I was skeptical at first. But this book cracked me up! I loved the setting, and the characters, especially the cats named after writers.

Favorite last-book-in-series: I know you think I’m going to say Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Well, I am. But Confessor, by Terry Goodkind, is also a tie. I love both of these series, and I thought both of the books were good endings.

Most overrated (to me) book: The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. Yeah, I know it won a bunch of accolades and awards, but frankly, I found it depressing and dissatisfying. Sorry. Good writing, but not a story I enjoyed.

Most disappointing book: Hands down, Rhett Butler’s People, by Daniel McCaig. I did not expect it be anywhere near as good as Gone with the Wind. But seriously? The Mitchell family should have let well enough alone. After the uproar over Scarlett, they should have learned their lesson. Leave the best alone. Don’t mess with the classics. Even good writing doesn’t make up for that.

Of course, these are all just my opinions. Take them for what they’re worth (which isn’t very much, and is about the same as anyone else’s is worth).

And here are the rest. Books 126-135.

LeGuin, Ursula K.: A Wizard of Earthsea (12/01/07)*

Ray, Kimberly: Your Coffin or Mine? (12/05/07)

LeGuin, Ursula K.: The Tombs of Atuan (12/07/07)

Diamant, Anita: The Red Tent (12/08/07)*

LeGuin, Ursula K.: The Farthest Shore (12/15/07)

Patterson, Kim; Liu, Marjorie M.; Sands, Lyndsay; Pettersson, Vicki: Holidays Are Hell (12/19/07)*

Mitchell, Margaret: Gone with the Wind (12/30/07)

Davidson, Mary Janice: Swimming Without a Net (12/30/07)*

Evanovich, Janet: Metro Girl (12/31/07)

Matheson, Richard: I Am Legend (12/31/07)*

Now, aren’t you glad I’m through boring you with everything I read last year?

Books 101-125.

Freedman, Rory and Barnouin, Kim: Skinny Bitch (09/17/07)

Stewart, Mary: The Last Enchantment (09/19/07)

Harris: Charlaine: All Together Dead (09/24/07)

Stewart, Mary: The Wicked Day (10/04/07)

Cast, P.C. and Kristin: Betrayed (10/06/07)

Brigg, Patricia: Blood Bound (10/08/07)

Raye, Kimberly: Dead End Dating (10/10/07)*

Raye, Kimberly: Dead and Dateless (10/13/07)

Vaughn, Carrie: Kitty and the Midnight Hour (10/13/07)*

Gerritsen, Tess: The Bone Garden (10/14/07)

Vaughn, Carrie: Kitty Goes to Washington (10/17/07)

Vaughn, Carrie: Kitty Takes a Holiday (10/19/07)

Mulvany, Catherine: Something Wicked (10/20/07)*

Arthur, Kerri: Kissing Sin (10/27/07)

Chance, Karen: Touch the Dark (10/28/07)*

Chance, Karen: Touched by Shadows (11/01/07)

Cornwell, Patricia: Book of the Dead (11/02/07)

Russe, Savanah: Beneath the Skin (11/03/07)

McCaig, Daniel: Rhett Butler’s People (11/10/07)

Hamilton, Laurell K.: A Lick of Frost (11/12/07)

Goodkind, Terry: Confessor (11/22/07)

Frost, Jeanine: Halfway to the Grave (11/22/07)*

Britain, Kristen: The High King’s Tomb (11/26/07)

Sparks, Nicholas: A Bend in the Road (11/28/07)

McCarthy, Cormac: The Road (11/30/07)*

Books 76-100.

Kingsolver, Barbara: The Poisonwood Bible (07/12/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (07/21/07)

Gaiman, Neil: Anansi Boys (07/22/07)

Rowen, Michelle: Fanged and Fabulous (07/24/07)*

Cast, P.C.: Divine by Mistake (07/26/07)*

Cast, P.C.: Divine by Choice (07/27/07)

Viehl, Lynn: Night Lost (07/30/07)

King, Stephen: Lisey’s Story (08/02/07)

Duane, Diane: Wizards at War (08/05/07)

Koontz, Dean: The Husband (08/07/07)

Hoyt, Elizabeth: The Raven Prince (08/07/07)

Forsyth, Kate: The Forbidden Land (08/11/07)

Forsyth, Kate: The Skull of the World (08/13/07)

Forsyth, Kate: The Fathomless Caves (08/15/07)

Stewart, Mary: The Crystal Cave (08/18/07)

Kinsella, Sophie: Can You Keep A Secret? (08/22/07)*

Stewart, Mary: The Hollow Hills (08/29/07)

Cast, P.C.: Divine by Blood (08/31/07)

Meyer, Stephenie: Twilight (09/01/07)*

Kinsella, Sophie: Confessions of a Shopaholic (09/02/07)

Cast, P.C.: Goddess of the Sea (09/02/07)

Richards, Susan: Chosen by a Horse (09/03/07)*

Cast, P.C. and Kristin: Marked (09/05/07)*

Meyer, Stephenie: New Moon (09/13/07)

Meyer, Stephenie: Eclipse (09/14/07)

I’ve actually read a lot the last couple of weeks. I haven’t been working much, so I’ve had plenty of time. That’s kind of nice, actually. I read Swimming Without a Net, by Mary Janice Davidson. I really enjoyed this book a lot. The heroine is great, the world was interesting. In fact, if I hadn’t been seeing more mermaid stuff lately, I would be tempted to use the idea. But this story had some good humor as well as nice characters. I’m going to be searching for the previous book with these characters, although this one works well as a stand-alone.

Next up is Metro Girl, by Janet Evanovich. Now, I’m a big fan of the Stephanie Plum novels, but I’ve never read anything else of Evanovich’s. This one wasn’t bad. Funny, like the Plum books, and the heroine got in a lot of hilarious scrapes. I do like the Plum books better, but I’m glad I branched out a bit. Plus, she completely has my luck.

Then I read I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson. Maybe I made a mistake in watching the movie first, because I loved the movie. However, I did not care for the book at all. In fact, the movie and the book bear only a passing resemblance. I much preferred the Robert Neville character from the movie, as opposed to the depressed alcoholic in the book. Also, the end of the movie came about halfway through the book, and the rest were random, unrelated short stories. Some of them were interesting, I’ll admit, but I was still less than impressed. I thought the storyline in the movie was much stronger. In fact, I almost threw this book across the room when I finished it.

First for this year was Coraline, by Neil Gaiman. It was…different. Gaiman is a talented writer, of course, but this story was just plain weird to me. And a little creepy, what with the disembodied hand and all.

I read Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson. I’ve been wanting to read this for a while, and finally stumbled across it in a used bookstore. I really, really liked this book. The characters are great, the writing is strong. I could relate to some of the things the characters went through, and it made me cry. Just once. I really recommend it.

I also read Tempting the Beast, by Lora Leigh. My best friend loaned it to me. Not a bad premise, in itself, but there was a lot of sex in this book (published by Ellora’s Cave). In fact, the whole “mating frenzy” thing reminded me quite a bit of Laurell K. Hamilton’s ardeur.

I re-read Margaret Sidne’s Five Little Peppers And How They Grew. I had actually completely forgotten about this book. I’ve read it a couple of times, and it reminds me a lot of Little Women. It’s just so wholesome, and that makes it an enjoyable read.

Last but not least, I re-read Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll. What can I say? I just revisited some childhood favorites recently.

Books 51-75.

Kidd, Sue Monk: The Secret Life of Bees (05/22/07)*

Douglass, Sara: The Wayfarer Redemption (05/27/07)

Douglass, Sara: Enchanter (05/29/07)

Douglass, Sara StarMan (05/31/07)

Douglass, Sara Sinner (06/02/07)

Douglass, Sara Pilgrim (06/06/07)

Douglass, Sara: Crusader (06/07/07)

Robards, Karen: Bait (06/10/07)*

Hamilton, Laurell K: The Harlequin (06/11/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (06/11/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (06/12/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (06/13/07)

Cruisie, Jennifer and Mayer, Bob: Don’t Look Down (06/14/07)*

Viehl, Lynn: Way of the Cheetah (06/16/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (06/16/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (06/19/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (06/22/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Lean Mean Thirteen (06/22/07)

Picoult, Jodi: My Sister’s Keeper (06/23/07)

Goodkind, Terry: Wizard’s First Rule (06/28/07)

Dean, Cameron: Passionate Thirst (06/29/07)*

Dean, Cameron: Eternal Hunger (07/01/07)

Spaeth, Frank: Mysteries of the Deep (07/05/07)*

Lisle, Holly: Mugging the Muse (07/06/07)

Gifford, Lazette: Muse (07/09/07)*